Linda Cristal Passes On

Linda Cristal, who starred as Victoria on the classic Western television series The High Chaparral and appeared in such movies as The Perfect Furlough (1958) and The Alamo (1960), died on June 27 2020 at the age of 89.

Linda Cristal was born Marta Victoria Moya Peggo Burges on February 23 1931 in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina. Her father was a French immigrant and a magazine publisher. Her mother, the former Rosario Pego, was Italian The family eventually moved to Montevideo, Uruguay after coming into conflict with a gang of criminals. Sadly, her parents both died when Miss Cristal was 13 from carbon monoxide poisoning while in their car. She studied Conservatorio Franklin in Uruguay.

It was during a trip to Mexico with her older brother that she was discovered by producer Miguelito Alemán. He gave her a bit part in his film Cuando levanta la niebla (1952). In the early to mid Fifties, she appeared in such films as El lunar de la familia (1953), Genio y figura (1953), Con el diablo en el cuerpo (1954), and El 7 leguas (1955).  Linda Cristal made her English language film debut in Comanche in 1956. In the late Fifties she appeared in the movies Enemigos (1956), El diablo desaparece (1957), The Last of the Fast Guns (1958), The Fiend Who Walked The West (1958), The Perfect Furlough (1958), Siete pecados (1959), Cry Tough (1959), Le legioni di Cleopatra (1959), The Alamo (1960), and La donna dei faraoni (1960). On television she guest starred on the show Rawhide.

In 1967 Linda Cristal began playing the role of Victoria Cannon, the strong-willed, independent wife of rancher John Cannon (played by Leif Erickson), on the Western TV show The High Chaparral. During its run Miss Cristal was twice nominated for an Emmy, one for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Drama in 1968 and one for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Series in 1971. The High Chaparral ran for four seasons and is still regularly seen in syndication. In the Sixties she guest starred on The Tab Hunter Show, Alcoa Premiere, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, T.H.E. Cat, and Iron Horse. Linda Cristal appeared in the movies Two Rode Together (1961), Le verdi bandiere di Allah (1963), and Panic in the City (1968).

In the Seventies Linda Cristal played a regular role on El chofer. She guest starred on the shows Cade's County, Bonanza, Search, Police Story, and Barnaby Jones. Miss Cristal appeared in the mini-series Condominium. She appeared in the movies Mr. Majestyk (1974) and Love and the Midnight Auto Supply (1977).  In the Eighties she played the lead on the TV show Rossé. She had a recurring role on the soap opera General Hospital in 1988. She guest starred on Love Boat and Fantasy Island.

Linda Cristal was a remarkable actress. A sex symbol early in her career,  she went onto play substantial roles. Victoria Cannon (née Montoya) was not only one of the most remarkable characters on TV Westerns in the Sixties, but one of the most remarkable female characters in television shows of any genre. Victoria was strong willed, passionate, intelligent, and independent. While female characters on other Westerns might wait for the male characters to rescue them, Victoria often devised her own escape. Linda Cristal would play a variety of roles throughout her career, from movie star Sandra Roca in The Perfect Furlough to radiologist Dr. Paula Stevens in  Panic in the City. She was an actress of considerable talent.